Covid-19 Vaccination Drive: Odisha Revamps State, District Level AEFI Committees

Bhubaneswar: In order to streamline the Covid-19 vaccination drive, the Odisha government on Saturday reconstituted the Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Committee at the State as well as district level.

The 21-member State-level AEFI committee will be headed by the director of family welfare while the chief district medical and public health officer will head the 14-member district-level committee.

“Preparations are underway for conducting COVID-19 vaccinations in states and districts, starting with certain priority groups. In connection with this, steps need to be takers to strengthen Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Surveillance following COVID-19 vaccinations to maintain confidence in safety of vaccines,” read a notification of the State Health and Family Welfare department.

Here is the list of members of State-level AEFI committee

1. Director, Family Welfare: Chairman
2. State Immunization Officer. Member Secretary
3. Jt. Director (Immunization): Member
4. Jt. Director (IDSP): Member
5. Drug Controller, Odisha: Member
6. HoD, Paediatrics, Capital Hospital: Member
7. HoD, Pathology, Capital Hospital: Member
8. HoD, Microbiology, Capital Hospital: Member
9. HoD, Medicine, Capital Hospital: Member
10. HoD, Pulmonary Medicine. Capital Hospital: Member
11. HoD, SPM Department, SCB MCH, Cuttack: Member
12. HoD, Neurology Department, SCB MCH, Cuttack: Member
13. HoD, FMT Department. SCB MCH, Cuttack: Member
14. HoD, Microbiology Deptt, SCB MCH, Cuttack: Member
15. HoD, Cardiology Dept, SCB MCH, Cuttack: Member
16. HoD, Pulmonary Medicine Deptt, SCB MCH, Cuttack: Member
17. HoD, Paediatric Deptt, SCB MCH, Cuttack: Member
18. State Cold Chain Officer: Member
19. Secretary, IAP, Bhubaneswar. Member
20. Heafth Specialist, UNICEF, Odisha: Member
21. SRTL, WHO, Bhubaneswar. Member

The role & responsibilities of the committee are:

• Desk review of Case Reporting Formats (CRF), Preliminary Case Investigation Formats (PCIF) and Final Case Investigation Formats (FCIF) of each AEFI cases reported by the district
• Field visit & inspection of vaccination site, cold chain stores etc as per need
• Interviewing AEFI case /Relatives, treating Doctor /Staff, Vaccinator, member of District AEFI Committee if required to help in Causality assessment
• Analysis of similar or cluster of cases in the State
• To do causality assessment of reported AEFI cases as per guideline
• Ensure State AEFI Committee meeting every quarter/ once in every month during COVID 19 vaccination or as & when required.
• Periodic review of data base of AEFI cases
• Support the Media Spokesperson for communication
• Ensure minutes of meeting are being shared with Govt. of India on time

List of members of district-level AEFI committee

1. Chief District Medical & Public Health Officer: Chairman
2. Addl. District Public Health Officer (FW): Member Secretary
3. Sr. Paediatric Specialist, DHH Member
4. Sr. Pathology Specialist, DHH Member
5. Sr. Microbiologist Specialist, OHH Member
6. Sr. Medicine Specialist, DHH Member
7. Sr. Pulmonary Medicine Specialist, DHH Member
8. Neurologist (OHM or Nearby Medical College) Member
9. Cardiologist (OHH or Nearby Medical College) Member
10. Epidemiologist of concerned district Member
11. Drug Inspector of concerned district Member
12. Member of Urban Local Bodies Member
13. Medical Officer WC where AEA occurred Member
14. Concerned Surveillance Medical Officer, WHO Member

The role & responsibilities of the committee are: -

• Investigate each AEFI cases within the timeframe by the district authority and document the relevant information in prescribed format.
• The classification of AEFI cases should be discussed by the Committee before submission to State & national level and uploading in safevac portal.
• Verify all relevant documents of each AEFI case to improve the quality of AEFI surveillance.
• Ensure to conduct Post Modem / Verbal autopsy in case of death.
• The Hospital records, laboratory investigation, PM report (in case of death), Viscera analysis report (In case of death) with PCIF/ FCIF
• Visit field for AEFI investigation in case of need.
• Ensure all minor AEFI cases are documented in block level AEFI register.
• Conduct District AEFI Committee meeting every month or in case need and submit proceedings of meeting to State.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)